사회

The Small U.K. Agency That’s a 911 for Ships in the Strait of Hormuz

It was founded more than 25 years ago, originally in Dubai, as part of the British response to the 9/11 terror attacks. It later switched its focus to helping to combat piracy off the coast of...

NYTIMES 입력 2026.04.28 18:28 0

The Small U.K. Agency That’s a 911 for Ships in the Strait of Hormuz

War in the

Middle East

U.S.-Iran Talks

Israel-Lebanon Truce

Strait of Hormuz

Generals Running Iran

Timeline of War

SKIP ADVERTISEMENT

You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.

Supported by

SKIP ADVERTISEMENT

The Small U.K. Agency That’s a 911 for Ships in the Strait of Hormuz

At a military base outside Portsmouth, England, a 24-hour service monitors the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and part of the Indian Ocean, responding to distress calls.

Listen

· 6:25 min

Share full article

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre monitors shipping around the Arabian Peninsula, aiding vessels in trouble.

Credit...

Andrew Matthews/Press Association, via Associated Press

Stephen Castle

Reporting from Portsmouth, England

April 28, 2026,

5:27 a.m. ET

See more of our coverage in your search results.

Encuentra más de nuestra cobertura en los resultados de búsqueda.

Add The New York Times on Google

Agrega The New York Times en Google

When a ship comes

under fire

in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the first places its distress call is likely to be heard is thousands of miles away, on a military base outside Portsmouth, on the south coast of Britain.

“The most distressing events are ones where you are being called up by the crew or master of a vessel that has just been attacked,” said Commander Joanna Black, head of operations at the

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre

The organization, led by the British navy, acts as a monitoring and emergency service for commercial shipping in the one of the world’s busiest maritime zones. It was founded more than 25 years ago, originally in Dubai, as part of the British response to the 9/11 terror attacks. It later switched its focus to helping to combat

piracy

off the coast of Somalia.

And since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran on Feb. 28, its services have become increasingly vital for sailors and shipping companies

seeking to navigate

the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf — in particular, the Strait of Hormuz.

The agency’s evolution reflects the importance that Britain, an island nation highly dependent on international trade that once had the world’s

most powerful navy

, has long placed on

maritime security

and freedom of navigation. With its naval knowledge, the unit has the skills and technology to understand the challenges facing global shipping, and it has established itself as a trusted, impartial source of critical information.

When vessels report problems to the agency by satellite phone or email, it notifies local coast guard, military or other authorities best placed to assist. It also posts information about incidents and shipping traffic on its website and on social media, in the process becoming an invaluable source of information for shippers, policymakers and the public.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and

log into

your Times account, or

for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?

Want all of The Times?